Drugs are an increasing problem for the police nationally, including British Transport Police. Specific drugs offences, such as possession and trafficking make up 6 per cent of crime reported to us. But many other crimes (eg. some thefts and robberies) are drug related, committed to feed drug habits or while under the influence of drugs.

The problem divides into three categories:

•low level drug use and dealing in and around stations

•couriers using the rail system to travel

•dealers using the trains to transport drugs through the parcel system

We combat this crime by:

•drugs intelligence gathering

•high profile operations to disrupt and deter offenders

•covert operations to detect offenders

•partnership activity with other police forces and agencies

BTP also uses drugs sniffer dogs to help in detection. The drugs dogs predominantly work on the rail network on trains and at stations, and are also regularly borrowed by other national forces to assist at large scale events such as festivals and concerts. The operations are a success and show that BTP does not tolerate possession of drugs or any other crime on the railway.

The TeachingZone also has information on the misuse of drugs provided by West Yorkshire Police, which can be found here.